WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Obama administration on Friday called on the government and all candidates in Afghanistan to abide by the upcoming decision over the country's controversial presidential election.
"Our position is that the government and all candidates need to abide by the decision of the commission and that the Afghan law, the Afghan Constitution has to be followed," said Department of State spokesman Ian Kelly.
The spokesman told reporters that there were indications that the Afghan government led by President Hamid Karzai is going to follow the Constitution and has been preparing "the way for a possible run-off."
Reports here said earlier in the day that the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission had reduced President Karzai's portion of the vote to about 47 percent, less than the 50 percent ensuring his victory.
The result, if confirmed, would trigger a run-off between President Karzai and his closest challenger, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah.
Earlier results showed that Karzai won 54 percent of the vote, while Abdullah had 28 percent.
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UN envoy: Widespread fraud in Afghan elections
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The United Nations special representative to Afghanistan Kai Eide addresses a press conference at the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) office in Kabul. Eide said Sunday that the level of fraud in Afghanistan's presidential election was "significant.
".(Xinhua photo)
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KABUL, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The top UN envoy in Afghanistan Kai Eide Sunday said there was "widespread fraud" in the Aug. 20 Afghan election, but he did not give more detail. Full story
ECC member resigns for protesting foreign countries' interference into Afghan elections
KABUL, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Mawlawi Mustafa Barakzai, one of the only two Afghan members in the UN-led Electoral Complaint Commission (ECC), resigned on Monday, private TV channel said in its news bulletin.
"Barakzi resigned in protest over interference of foreign countries on the ECC decisions," the TV said. Full story
